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Functional Thyroid Tumors in the Kidneys of Platyfish^*

( Genetics and Aquarium Laboratories, New York Zoological Society, and Department of Zoology, Barnard College and Columbia University, New York, N.Y.)

Several laboratory strains of the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus, have been observed to have a high incidence of tumors involving the kidneys. By morphological and physiological criteria these tumors are thyroidal in nature. Radioautographs show that the follicles of the kidney tumors are similar to those of the thyroid gland in their ability to bind inorganic iodine to protein.

Thyroidal tumor tissue was found in the heart, spleen, chorioid gland, and other areas of the body, but there is no direct evidence for metastases. It is not known whether the tumors in the kidney and other sites are a result of migration from the thyroid itself, or whether they have differentiated in situ from unidentified precursor cells.

The tumors of the kidney are similar histologically to those of the thyroid, but are much more cystic. They, too, are able to invade and destroy muscle. The kidney tumor tissues may perforate the body wall, and, in addition, may cause almost total destruction of the normal kidney tissue.

The concentration of iodine in the laboratory aquarium water is abnormally low. Since some strains of platyfish develop thyroidal tumors in the kidney and other strains do not, while kept under similar conditions, it is inferred that there are genetic factors that mediate the differences in reaction.

As yet there is no evidence for genetic linkage between any of the many known color pattern genes and those which are probably responsible for various degrees of susceptibility to thyroid and kidney tumors.

^* Aided by a grant to the New York Zoological Society from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, and by a contract between the Office of Naval Research Department of the Navy and Columbia University (NR163-208) and the laboratory facilities of the American Museum of Natural History.

Received 10/ 2/54.

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